Bust pad



June 1, 1937. E. B. MEADOWS BUST PAD Filed Jan. 24, 1934 INVENTOR BY 545/5 5. NE/IDOWS Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES BUST PAD Elsie B. Meadows, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to Edwin D. Jones, Los Angeles,

Calif.

Application January 24, 1934, Serial No. 708,022

10 Claims. (01. 2-267) My invention has reference to bust pads, and it has for a purpose the provision of a bust pad characterized by its close resemblance in shape. degree of firmness, and appearance to the perfect human breast, so that when worn over an imperfect breast it will lend to it the characteristics of the perfect breast.

I will describe only one form of bust pad embodying my invention, and will then point out 10 the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in front elevation one form of bust padembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing my bust pad in rear 15 elevation and with a portion of the back covering broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the bust pad taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view showing in rear elevation the 20 several layers of fabric comprising the body of the bust pad before they are stitched to shape and then stitched together.

Fig. 5 is a view showing in rearelevation the front layer of fabric of the body and the manner QB in which the nipple forming core is associated with the front layer.

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary sectionalviews taken on the lines t@ and 'L-l, respectively, of Fig. 5.

Referring specifically to the drawing, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a body indicated generally at B which is made up of a plurality of layers of down or any other felted fabric which lends to the completed body the requisite degree of softness necessary to simulate the softness and smoothness of the human breast. In the present instance, the body B comprises three layers, l5, l8, and ll of felted fabric graduated in size or area as shown. As 40 best illustrated in Fig. 4, each layer of fabric is of ovate form and at its edge is incut to permit removal of V-shaped portion of the fabric and thus form in each a plurality of V-shaped gaps designated at l5, l8, and H for the respective 45 layers.

By means of a thread l8 stitched only partly through the fabric in the manner shown in Fig. 7, the walls defining each gap l5, l6, or l'l are drawn together and permanently held in such manner that/they are not overlapped but are flush with the opposite surfaces of the layer. This mode of connection prevents the formation of ridges in the finished bust body so that the latter is soft and pliable.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that there are more gaps in the lower part of each layer of fabric than in the upper part. Thus when all of these gap walls are drawn together and stitched there is given to each layer a cupped contour at the bottom portion thereof to form a support for the human breast when applied thereto.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each layer l5, l6, or H is formed with tapered edges as indicated at l5, l6, and Il respectively. These tapered 5 edges may be formed at the time the fabric is made or subsequently thereto. by skiving. Irrespective of how the tapered edges are formed, they are for the purpose of providing a thin edge to the bust body as a whole, and to also cause 10 the layers It and ii to merge into each other and into the front layer i5, as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the layers It and It and H are secured one to the other by threads i 9 cross-stitched as illustrated through the edges of the layers 86 and i1. Thus is formed a bust body of concave-convex contour, with the convex side shaped to correspond to that of a breast,

and the concave side to receive the breast.

a To carry out the idea involved in my invention of producing a bust pad which when actually on the breast itself appears to be the breast, I provide means for forming on the convex or outer side of the body B a protuberance in simulation of the nipple, in the present instance this means comprising laminated pieces of down or other felted fabrics which are in the form of disks 20. As best shown in Fig. 6 these disks are graduated in diameter with the smaller disk innermost or in contact with the inner side of the body layer i5.

To apply these disks 2!! to the bust body in the formation of the protuberance, they are stacked one upon the other in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6, and a pin P is extended through all of the disks and through the layer H to hold the disks in this stacked relation. Prior to this operation a double thread 2! is stitched partly through the fabric of which the layer i5 is formed, and in the form of a circle, as-clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 One end of the double thread is knotted as indicated at 22, while the loose end of the thread is extended for a-distance sufllcient to permit it to be grasped and pulled.

With the double thread 2| applied as described, the disks 20 are now positioned within the circle defined by the thread by the use of the pin P. Now by holding the fabric layer I 5 in one hand with the fingers thereof against the outer or convex side of the fabric, and the thumb of the same hand in the inner side of the fabric and against the topmost disk 20, by intermittently pressing with the thumb and simultaneously pulling the loose end of the thread with the other 5 hand, the disks are forced into the fabric of the layer while the fabric around the disks is drawn or constricted about the latter until finally, the fabric at the outer side of the layer is extended in a rounded protuberance 23 to form 5 the nipple of the breast. Final constriction of the fabric about the disks is followed by stitching the loose end of the thread into the disks and across the fabric layer thus permanently retaining the disks compressed within the fabric to permanently form the protuberance. The protuberance so formed is relatively firm but not hard, because the disks which form its core are made of soft felt and hence can not be compressed to a degree of hardness.

It will be understood that formation of the protuberance occurs prior to assembling the several layers of the bust body, but once they have been assembled there is produced a pad having the exterior contour and nipple of the perfect human bust. It is important to note that the fabric of which the protuberance and body layer is formed produces a protuberance which is soft and yet of permanent shape in simulation of the characteristics of the human nipple.

To carry out the simulation of the human breast as to appearances, the protuberance is painted or otherwise colored to the shade of the human nipple, while the surface of the body around the nipple is likewise colored but to a lighter tint, all as shown in Fig. 1.

To further carry out simulation of the real breast, the pad body is covered at its front or convex side with sheets 24 of skin colored chiffon. Preferably, two sheets are used to render them translucent and thus give the desired appearance to the bust pad. Also, to protect the back or concave side of the pad body against becoming soiled from wear, a sheet 25 of chiffon or even moisture-proof material 25 is provided. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the edges of the sheets 24 and 25 are inturned and stitched to the edge of the bust pad body to retain them in proper position on the body.

In practice, the bust pad is worn beneath a brassiere, and when so worn it not only aids in supporting the breast but gives to it the desired natural contour. Because of the exterior appearance of the pad, it carries the deception to completion, and although soft and pliable, permanently retains its shape.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of bust pad embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bust pad having layers of fabric gradu ated in size and secured together to form a concave-convex body; and means situated between .that layer of fabric forming the convex side of the body and the next adjacent layer for causing a portion of the first mentioned layer to protrude and form a nipple.

2. A bust pad having layers of fabric graduated in size and secured together to form a concavo-convex body; and means situated between that layer of fabric forming the convex side of;

the body and the next adjacent layer for causing a portion of the first mentioned layer to protrude and form a nipple, said means comprising laminated pieces of fabric.

3. A bust pad having layers of fabric graduated in size and secured together to form a concavoconvex body; and means situated between that layer of fabric forming the convex side of the body and the next adjacent layer for causing a portion of the first mentioned layer to protrude and form a nipple, said means comprising laminated pieces of felted fabric of graduated sizes.

4. A bust pad having; a body of concavo-convex form composed of layers of felted fabric of graduated sizes, each layer having tapered edges and of concavo-convex form; laminated pieces of felted fabric situated between the layers to cause a portion of that layer forming the convex side of said body to protrude and form a nipple; said nipple and a portion of said layer surrounding said nipple being colored; and a skin colored translucent fabric cover for the convex side of said body.

5. A bust pad comprising; a concavo-convex body composed of layers of fabric of graduated sizes, each layer having tapered edges, and V-shaped gaps in said edges; and threads stitched in the fabric of each layer for holding the walls of the fabric defining each gap in abutting relation so they are flush with the surfaces of the layer.

6. A bust pad comprising; a concave-convex body composed of layers of fabric of graduated sizes, each layer having tapered edges, and V- shaped gaps in said edges; threads stitched in the fabric of each layer for holding the walls of the fabric defining each gap in abutting relation so they are flush with the surfaces of the layer; and laminated pieces of fabric situated between said layers to cause a portion of that layer forming the convex side of said body to protrude and form a nipple.

'7. A bust pad having layers of fabric secured together to form a body having a convex side;

and means situated between that layer forming the convex side of the body and the next adjacent layer for protruding a portion of the first mentioned layer to form a nipple.

8. In a bust pad; a layer of fabric of concavoconvex form; laminated pieces of fabric so embedded in the concave side of said layer as to protrude a part thereof from the convex side thereof; and means for so securing said layer in embracing relation to said pieces that the protruding part of said layer forms a nipple.

9. A method of forming a nipple permanently on a bust pad made of felt-like fabric and having a convex side, which comprises; pressing a quantity of relatively soft material into the pad to deform the convex side thereof and thus form a protrusion thereon; and then securing said material in the protrusion.

10. A bust pad, comprising; a sheet of pliable material; a relatively small padding; means for securing said padding to the sheet and protruding a portion thereof to form a nipple on its outer face and a corresponding cavity on its inner face, said securing means restricting the cavity of the nipple to permanently retain the padding therein ELSIE B. MEADOWS. 

